Page 76 of No Way Home
Commanding Officer
You better not be going over there to see that boy who broke your heart.
I ignored his text, turned left, and crossed onto the back road that led to Clean Slate, Ford and Peyton’s Ranch.
Just then, my phone rang. Abilene. I pressed the green check to accept the call and put it on speakerphone.
“Mags,” she said. “Why is your dad texting me, saying you’re heading to Dupree Ranch?”
“Well, hello to you too,” I sang.
“Girl. Answer the question so he’ll stop blowing up my phone.”
“I’m not heading to Dupree Ranch."
“Phew. Thank goodness for that. Where are you headed then?”
“Clean Slate Ranch,” I mumbled.
“Same thing!”
“Charlie invited me for a late lunch. Basically demanded.”
“For all you know, they might be eatingyoufor lunch.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said.
Abilene said nothing, which was very un-Abilene-like.
“You think this is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, don’t you?” I asked.
“That goes without saying. Quick! Turn around before it’s too late.”
“Can’t. Charlie made lots of food. She even sent pics.” Made enough for an army. “And she’s excited for me to see the RV she and Cash have been living in.”
“She’s excited about a used RV,” Abilene said, sounding dumbfounded. “Sounds like a setup.”
“Charlie wouldn’t do that?”
Abilene snorted. “Whatever you say. You know, those Duprees are notorious for overstepping when it comes to people they care about. Maybe she’s trying to get you with Bowen.”
“I’m not getting together with Bowen,” I said dryly. “Weren’t you the one telling me to tell Bowen about Topher?”
“Which worked, by the way. Enlisting him to help is onething, but you keep your heart locked up tight. You hear me? Ain’t nobody got time for a broken heart right now. We have Shelf exams to worry about.”
“You don’t need to remind me. I’m aware.” I pulled up to the gate. “I gotta go, Abs.”
“What am I supposed to tell the Commander in Chief?” she asked.
“Just don’t respond. What’s he going to do? Hop on a plane and come stop me?”
“No. But he might have a stroke,” she said. “If your dad ends up with one half of his body paralyzed and you have to spend the rest of his life wiping drool from his mouth, don’t think you won’t be getting ‘I told you so’ texts from me every time you complain.”
“Fine.” I laughed. “You can send me ‘I told you so’ texts.”
“911 me if you need back up,” she said in her bossy voice.
“How are you going to help? You’re an hour away.”
